Homegrown Organic Farms, Porterville, Calif., has received Equitable Food Initiative certification for organic stone fruit grown in California.
The EFI-certified fruit will be shipping to Costco Wholesale and Whole Foods Markets on June 1, according to a news release.
“Homegrown Organic Farms operates on a set of principles shared among its growers that greatly align with the social responsibility principles of EFI,” Kevin Boyle, director of new product and business development for EFI, said in the release. “Given that, it is not surprising that it became the fastest operation to achieve certification after training.”
The company completed the certification process as the pandemic began in the U.S.
“We deployed an innovative approach using technology and targeted on-site audit functions to meet the three organization’s safety guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring compliance with EFI’s 335 standards,” Bonnie Holman, director of sustainability certifications for SCS Global Services, said in the release. “We were also able to confirm that the EFI Leadership Team was demonstrating value for the operation in the midst of the pandemic by supporting key communications and best practices surrounding the health and safety of workers.”
Homegrown Organic CEO Scott Mabs said EFI helps cross-department collaboration and personal development.
“It is quite a unique program that is on the forefront of systems improvement for the farm supply chain,” Mabs said in the release. “Homegrown has always been about the development and value of our team members and EFI is a wonderful support to that mission.”
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